Automatic sheet feeding device



March 23, 1965 F. w. GRANTHAM AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 17, 1962 HTTORNEfiS March 23, 1965 F. w.GRANTHAM AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 17,1962 INVENTOR. FREDERICK W G-nmvrmm March 23, 1965 F w. GRANTHAM3,174,238

AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed April 17, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3March 23, 1965 F. w. GRANTHAM AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 17, 1962 March 23, 1965 F. w. GRANTHAM 3,174,238

AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed April 17, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /ommvron 7 fke'om/clr w-zwvr/mn Uite States Patent 3,174,238 AUTQMATICSHEET FEEDING DEVICE Frederick W. Grantham, Hollywood, Calif., assignorto McGraw-Edison Company, Eigin, 11]., a corporation of Delaware FiledApr. 17, 1962, Ser. bio/188,123 20 Claims. (Cl. 38-143) The inventionrelates to apparatus for automatically feeding and simultaneouslyspreading fiatwork laundry articles while delivering them in successionto ironing means. While the apparatus can be used with a diversity offlatwork articles, one of its principal uses is in the spreading ofwashed sheets, and the feeding of the sheets to ironing rolls, and inthe present specification the workpieces will be referred to, forconvenience, as sheets.

Heretofore, in the commercial laundry field, the feeding of sheets tothe ironer rolls was usually performed by a crew of skilled operators,not less than two and often three, four, five, or six in number, thebasic two being needed to hold opposite front corners of the sheet andapply stretching tension so that an unwrinkled leading edge would enterthe bite of a doifer roll at the entrance to the ironer. The twooperators normally deposited the stretched sheet on feeding tapes whichenter the rolls. Various expedients, such as diverging feeding tapes, orother means, were used in an attempt to assure delivery of a properlystretched sheet to the ironer. Additional operators were often used forflufiing, stretching, spreading or otherwise handling the sheets in anattempt to expedite the operation.

These operators work in trained teams and become highly skilled in thequality of their work and the speed with which sheets are handled. Ifone member of the team is absent, and an operator of inferior skill issubstituted, the whole operation is downgraded in speed and quality.

The speed and efficiency of an ironing apparatus (herein usually termedan ironer) is limited by the speed with which sheets can be deliveredthereto and, merely as an illustrative example, while an ironer can bebuilt to accept workpieces at a linear speed of 150 feet per minute, thefull capabilities of the machine cannot be utilized if the workpiecedelivery is so slow that it could easily be accommodated by an oldertype ironer, the top linear speed of which is only 100 to 120 feet perminute. Obviously the most commercially desirable operation is one inwhich sheets can be delivered to a modern high speed ironer at a ratewhich approaches the operating rate of the ironer, and especially if itcan be done auto matically, tended by only one operator.

Attempts have heretofore been made to develop sheet feeding devices toeliminate some members of an operating team, but such attempts up to thepresent time have not produced sufiiciently satisfactory results.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding andspreading machine which is automatically self-adjusting for sheet width.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typecharacterized in the last preceding paragraph which requires theservices of only a single relatively unskilled operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typecharacterized in the last two preceding paragraphs which operates at alineal delivery speed high enough to etliciently utilize the fullcapability of a modern high speed ironer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sheet feeding andspreading machine which is automatically self adjusting for sheet width,and which accepts and delivers individual sheets in respective cycleswith auto- 3,174,238 Patented Mar. 23, 1965 matic stops between eachcycle to permit the operator to supply a new sheet to the machine.

A further object of the invention is to develop a machine as defined inthe last preceding paragraph wherein automatic means is provided fordetermining the duration of the pause between sheet-advancing cycles.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in combination with amachine as hereinabove characterized, operator-operated override meanswhereby to intercept a sheet already being advanced, and by-pass thesheet to prevent its delivery to the ironer.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the typehereinabove characterized, automatically operating sheet spreading meansincluding a pair of arms pivoted to swing in converging and divergingarcs, and having means thereon to grip the opposed corners of theleading edge of an advancing sheet, and having means for maintaining adiverging bias on the arms to cause said leading edge to achieve a tautcondition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typedefined in the last preceding paragraph, and wherein means is providedfor maintaining the respective angular divergence of each armequidistant from a longitudinal center line between the arms extendingin the direction of sheet travel.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining anoutwardly divergent bias on the arms as defined in the last twopreceding paragraphs, in combination with means for preventingundesirable outward snap-action movement responsive to said bias when asheet is released by the arms.

A further object of the invention is to provide endless conveyor meanscarried by the arms hereinabove defined, and having thereon gripperclamp means for accepting and advancing a sheet to a sheet-release zone.

A further object of the invention is to provide means carried by theendless conveyor just mentioned, and dis posed to operate a device tocontrol both the length of an operating cycle and the duration of thepause between cycles.

A further object of the invention is to provide sheet transfer meansdisposed to accept each sheet as it is released from the aforesaidendless conveyor and advance it towards a suitable ironer.

A further object of the invention i to provide sheet advancing means asdefined in the last preceding paragraph wherein the said transfer meansincludes power operated rolls, each having thereon raised beads,spirally diverging from their central zone, whereby to cooperate inspreading each sheet as received.

A further object of the invention is to provide advancing means asdefined in the last preceding paragraph wherein one of said rolls isadapted to rotate in reverse direction to the other rolls, whereby toapply back tension to a sheet moving in contact therewith, and tendingto by pass any sheet not already gripped by the ironer.

A further object of the invention is to provide sheet advancing rolls asdefined in the last preceding paragraph wherein said reversely rotatingroll is normally maintained out of contact with a sheet advancingtherepast until the leading edge of the sheet is gripped by the ironerroll, but wherein operator-operated by-pass means is provided forproducing operating contact between said reversely rotating roll and asheet prior to the time when a sheet is gripped by the ironer.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of thepresent specification describing one exemplification of the invention,in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a sheet feeder and spreaderconstructed in accordance with the present invention, the operatorsposition being at the left, a fragment of the receiving'por'tion of anironer being shown in dotted line at the right.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the sheet feeder as seen from theleft of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the ingress end of the apparatus, as seenfrom above'the left end of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3A is a top plan view of thebalance of the apparatus as seen-from aboveFIG. 1, the showings of FIGS.3 and 3A being joinable on the lines A'A as seen in both figures.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the rearor delivery end of theapparatus as seen from the right of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a detail view, partially'in axial sectionQand partially inplan, and somewhat enlarged, showing the end of a sheet delivering roll.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the end of another roll.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational View of the ends of the sheet deliveringroll assembly. 7 y

FIG. dis a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the ends of the sheetdelivering roll assembly as seen from the section line 88 of FIG. 4.

FIG. '9 is a detail view, considerably enlarged, showing a portion "ofthe conveyor chain stopped at the operators position, with the sheetgripping clamp in open position.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the conveyor chain and clamp, withthe clamp in closed position, gripping the leading edge of a sheet.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of some of the operating elements, withelectric circuits shown diagrammatically.

FIG. 12 is a schematic showing of the means for maintaining the armsequidistant from the longitudinal center line of the machine.

7 Speaking first generally, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, theoperating elements are carried on a' skeleton type frame including basemembers 2 0, upright posts 21,at the frame corners, and horizontal topmembers 22, with any suitable cross braces which do not interfere withthe moving parts hereinafter to be described. As seen from the operatorsposition at the left of FIG. 1 the machine includes a left swingablemember 23 and a right swing-able member 24 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 3A) which arepivotal'ly supported at the ingress end on opposed ends of a rotatabledrive shaft 25 which has universal joint portions therein to permit theneeded flexibility while supplying driving power to sprockets 26 and 27.

The two swingable members are identical, and description of one willsuffice. Member 24 includes a long horizontal arm28 extending the fulllength of the machine and a short vertical part 29 fixed to the front oringress end of the arm 28. At the corners of the long L-shaped'assemblyout'lined by parts 28 and 29 are sprockets 27, 30 and 31 aroundwhich a link chain 32 is stretched whereby, when sprocket 27 is drivenby shaft 25 as hereinabove mentioned, the endlesschain 32 movesappropriately, as indicated by the arrows on FIG. 1.

Towards the rear or delivery end of the machine arm 28 is provided witha pair of casters 35 on a bracket 36 a seen in FIG. 3Athe armsaremovablefwm their full line positions towards and sometimes past theirbroken line positions and reversely, means being provided to insuretheir equidistance from said longitudinal center line. The amount ofangular swing will depend on the width of the workpiece which may benarrower than a sheet. Such means could be any suitable pantagrapharrangement but as here shown it includes (FIGS. 3A, 4 and 12) a pair.of idler sheaves 38 mounted on opposite rfirame members 22. An endlesscord 39-391: is wound around the sheaves, being connected to arms 28 and28a and being crossed between them as best shown in FIG. 12.

One or more springs 40 may be included to maintain tension on the cord.It will be apparent that any force exerted on either arm to produceswinging movement thereof will move the other arm a like amount in theopposite direction.

The arms are biased to their widest angular separation in the followingmanner, referringparticularly to FIGS. 1 and 3A. A shaft'43 isjournalled on frame member 22:: and track 37 in bearings 44 and 45. Apulley 46 is fixed to shaft 43 and has a cord 47 wound around the pulleywith its end attached to a tab 48 on arm 28a. Another pulley 49 is alsofixed to shaft 43 andhas a cord 50 wound around the pulley and attachedto a piston rod 51 extending outwardly from a piston (not shown) withina long tubular cylinder 52 which is fixed to bottom frame member 20 andextends upwardly therefrom. A cross head 55 attached to connecting rod51 is urged downwardly by spaced tension springs 56 and 57 which areconnected at their upper ends to the crosshe'ad and at their lower endsto frame 20. The normal bias of the springs pulls downwardly oncross'head 55 and through cord 50 rotates pulleys 49 and 46. Rotation ofpulley 46 pulls arms 28a and 28 outwardly, this being their normal idleposition.

Outward snap action is delayed by the dash pot effect produced incylinder 52. The piston in the cylinder moves in oil which can bedisplaced upwardly or downwardly through a by pass tube 58 having arestricted aperture controlled by a needle valve 59 adjustable by handle60. This dash pot effect and various means wherebyit can be achievedwill be familiar to those skilled in the'ai't.

The conveyor chain is driven by a motor 63through belt 63a; a speedchange and belt tension device 64; a belt 65; a pulley 66; a belt 67;and a sheave 68 on shaft 25. The drive sequence is best seen in FIG. 1,being supported above the topfront portion of the frame. The motor is aconventional type coupled to a brake mechanism which is instantaneouslyapplied when current to the motor is cut off, as will later be describedin connec tion with operation of the apparatus. 7 At the right end(FIG. 1) of the apparatus, sometimes herein termed th e delivery ordischarge end, is a transfer roll assembly carried on an extensionbracket 69 and a cross brace 70', both fixed on vertical frame posts 21.This roll assembly is continuously rotated by a motor 88. The assemblyin thepresent instance includes five rolls, 73, 74, 75, 76, and 77, asbest seen in FIG. 7 and all except roll are journalled in bracket 69.Roll 75 is jcurnalled in the swingable ends of crank arms 78, the otherend of said crank arms being rotatable on stub shafts 79 extendinginwardly from brackets 69 (FIG. 4). The object of this transfer rollassembly is to accept a sheet delivered on top of the assembly by thechain conveyor, as will soon be described, and transfer the sheet to theironer. At the right end of FIG. 1 there is shown indotted lines thereceiving end of a conveyor including endless tapes S0 and a dofier roll81.

Referring again to FIG. 7, the rolls 73, 74, 76 and 77 are driven by asuccession of belts including Nos. 34, 85, 86 and 87 which operativelyengage sprockets or sheaves on the ends of the respective roll shafts,insuch manner that these four rolls rotate in the same direction. Thedriving impulse comes from a continuouslyrotating motor 88. The upwardlymovable roll is rotated by a belt 89 on the other side of the machine(FIG. 8) which extends from a sheave 91 on the end of the shaft of roll76 to a sheave 92 on the end of the stub shaft 79 heretofore mentioned.Stubshaft 79.has fixed thereto a gear 95 which meshes with a gear 96fixed on the shaft of roll 75. It will be noted on FIG. 8 that when stubshaft 79 swings crank link 78 counterclockwise, roll 75 will stillcontinue to rotate reversely by reasonof the mesh engagement of gears 95and 96, butthe roll 75 travels upwardly in planetary fashion around thefixed axis of stub shaft 79.

The two positions of roll 75 are illustrated respectively in full andbroken line in FIG. 7, and the rocking movement is effected, whenneeded, in the following manner, reference being had to FIG. 7.

A link chain 97 passes over sprocket 95a on stub shaft 79. One end ofthe chain is fastened to a tension spring 93 which in turn is fastenedto a frame bracket 99. The other end of the chain is secured to thearmature of a solenoid coil 1139. It will be apparent that spring biastends to rotate shaft 79 counterclockwise to raise roll '75 to the fullline position of FIG. 7. Energization of solenoid 190 pulls chain 97 inthe opposite direction to return the roll to the dotted line position.This movement of the armature may actually be arranged to be produced byeither energization or de-energization of the solenoid, depending onconvenience in the arrangement of the electrical circuitry.

The endless chains 32 which serve to advance and spread the sheets orworkpieces carry grippers or clamps disposed for rapid and simplegripping action. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 the chain 32 has affixedthereto by brackets and rivets 1413 and ltl ta flexible strip 195 whichcould be leather or a plastic composition, and which can turn thecorners around the sprockets 27, 3t), and 31. Fixed to this flexiblestrip at the position 104 is a rigid metal strip 196 having at one sideof its connection point a slightly curved tongue 106a, and on the otherside of the connection point a straight gripping part 1%!) having afacing which may be sponge rubber with a frictional facing 1960.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 10 an operator at the left end ofFIG. 1 or in front of FIG. 2 grasps the opposite corners of a sheet edgeand thrusts them into the angle between clamp parts IE5 and 1116c, thechains 32 being temporarily stopped, and the clamps being in theposition shown just below sprocket 30, FIG. 1. The resilient facings1116c frictionally grip the sheet corners, and retain them and advancethe sheet to the right below the lower chain flight when the chains aremoved. As soon as the clamps turn the corner" and begin their forwardadvance with the chain the clamp part 1061) assumes the position shownin FIG. 10, the tongue part ltlda pressing against the chain andincreasing the clamping grip on the sheet corners. When the particularclamps under discussion turn the corner again around sprocket 31 at theright or delivery end of FIG. 1 the clamping parts open to release theleading edge of the sheet.

There are three spaced clamps on each chain, in the present embodiment,identified as 1%, 1117 and 108 respectively, and their equally spacedpositions are well shown on FIG. 1. Each clamp carries a finger 106d,the purpose of which is to operate a microswitch 1199 to stop theconveyor chains. The chains will therefore stop at each one-third of acomplete rotation, or three stops per complete rotation. At each stopthe clamp positions will be as shown in FIGS. 1 or 11, one clamp beingdirectly under microswitch 1G9, and the clamps at the operators positionbeing ready to receive a sheet while the preceding sheet is stillretained, its leading edge being in the position determined by clamp1117 which will not yet have opened. The operating sequence will laterbe more fully described.

The machine includes two air blowers 113 and 114. Blower 113 is locatedon the base 21 near the front and directs an air blast forwardly andupwardly into an enclosure 115 of flattened clam-shell shape having afront semicircular wall 115a and a rear semicircular wall 1115b (FIG.1). These walls have a peripheral spacing which permits air to escape ina semicircle around the edges, and there are a pair of front wallopenings 116 which allow a substantial air stream to escape towards theoperator. The purpose of these air streams will appear hereinafter.

Blower 114 is mounted on top of the machine, towards the rear, and has aduct 11? which is directed downwardly above the transfer rolls 74, 75,76 and 77, and which fans out laterally. Blower 113 is powered by amotor 118 and blower 114 is powered by a motor 119. The intake of blower114 is controlled by a damper 120. When the damper is open a strongblast is directed downwardly. When the damper is shut the blast isreduced to a minor amount. Operation of the damper will be described inconjunction with a description of one cycle of operation, havingreference to all drawings, and especially to FIG. 11.

Proceeding now to a description of the operation, three phase current issupplied through lines L L L when switch 123 is closed. Motor 88 for thetransfer rolls and motors 11S and 119, for the blowers 113 and 11d,begin to operate continuously. Motor 63 for the chain drive istemporarily stopped since the end of the preceding cycle, for thefollowing reason. At the end of the preceding cycle the finger on clamp1% intercepted the operating trigger of switch 109 so as to energizesolenoid 124 through conductor 125, switch 109, conductor 126, the coilof solenoid 124 and conductors 127 and 128. Energization of solenoid 124caused its armature 124a to operate a timer switch TS This timer switchwas closed immediately but will open again after a preset time, say sixseconds. When the switch in T8 closed it energized a solenoid 12% thecurrent passing through conductor 13!), switch TS conductor 131, coil ofsolenoid 129, and conductor 132 to L The armature of solenoid 129immediately opened switch 133 against the bias of spring 134 which tendsnormally to keep this switch closed. The timer mechanism in switch T8has been set, as above mentioned, to open switch T5 after six secondswhich results in the re-starting of conveyor chain motor 63.

One other operation takes place during this six second pause. Connectedin parallel with solenoid 124 through conductors 137 and 138 is anothertimer switch T5 which has a timed period of inactivity after operationby the armature of solenoid 139 after which it actuates a panel buzzer140, the buzzer current passing through conductor 141, switch T3conductors 142 and 143. The buzzer is set to operate at about, forexample, four seconds atfer the stop page of the conveyor chains, andthe buzzer gives the operator a two second warning that the chains areabout to start.

When the chains stop the operator immediately thrusts the leadingcorners of the sheet into clamps 1% which grip the sheet tightly andwhen the chains start again as motor 63 starts, the sheet is drawnforwardly, imposing inward tension on arms 28 and 28a against the biasof springs 56 and 57 as heretofore explained. The sheet is drawn forwardacross a wire lattice 144 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which permits the draft fromblower 113 to begin to billow out the sheet. It is drawn over a bowedbar 145 which laterally spans the width of the machine and then acrossrolls 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 in that order. Rolls 73, '76 and 77 areprovided with spiral beads, developing away from their center inopposite directions, the direction of roll rotation being such that thefrictional drag on the contacted sheet tends to spread the trailingportion of the sheet. On the next cyclic stop this first sheet is stillgripped since its clamp has arrived only at the position of clamp 107 inFIG. 1. However after the six second pause during which the operatoraflixes a second sheet, the clamp 107 advances as far as sprocket 31 atwhich time clamp 107 opens and the sheet is dropped with its frontportion overlying the transfer rolls which, continuously rotating,deliver the sheet to tapes and dolfer roll 81. Arms 28 and 28a arethereupon returned to their outermost position responsive to the bias ofsprings 56 and 57. Up to this point, in normal operation, reversing roll75 has been in its lowest position, as seen in broken line in FIG. 7.

As soon as the leading edge of the sheet is pinched 7. in the ironer, atimer acts to raise roll 75, as shown in FIG. 11. A microswitch 149'which may be actuated by a finger on chain 32 (not shown), or may beresponsive to an actuation from one of timer switches "PS or T8energizes a timer switch T3 through conductors 159, switch 149,conductor 151, timer switch T S and conductor 1552,. Operation of switchT8 energizes solenoid 150 (FIG. 7) and, through a parallel circuit,solenoid 154. Solenoid 10% releases its armature 100a to permit spring98 to raise roll 75 and hold it for the period determined by the timer.Simultaneously the armature 154:: of solenoid 154 operates the damper120 heretofore described to permit a strong draft of air to bedischarged downwardly from conduit 117 to cause the sheet to adhereclosely to the transfer rolls and the back tension roll. Timer switch T8permits this condition to exist for only a second or so, after whichconditions revert to normal. Actually roll 75 is normally biased to upposition under the influence of spring 93, but is lowered by solenoid160 as the leading edge of the sheet approaches. Roll 75 is raisedas'above described when the leading edge of the sheet reaches the ironerrolls.

Should it be noted by the operator that a torn or otherwise defectivesheet is going through she can immediately push a lever or button toclose switch 157 which then acts similarly to switch 149 when closed.Roll 75 is thereupon raised prematurely, before the edge of the sheet isgripped by the ironer. Since roll 75is rotating reversely it by passesthe sheet rearwardly and downwardly between rolls 74 and 75 so that itis not transferred to the ironer.

In addition to the metal spiral beads 153 on the transfer rolls theremay also be provided an adjacent additional head or strip 159 wrappedaround the roll, and formed from high friction material, such as V-beltstock or the like. The strip 159 is so positioned with respect to bead158 that when the spirals are pulling the sheet the frictional bead isassuming most of the traction, but when the ironer takes over thetraction the sheet is contacting mainly the smoother beads. This is madepossible by the fact that the ironer is normally arranged to have asomewhat higher lineal speed than the transfer rolls.

If desired a counter may be supplied in a circuit containing a switchresponsive to inward movement of one of the arms which would show thetotal number of sheets picked up by the endless conveyor. Anothercounter could be provided responsive to operation of push button switch159 to show the total number of sheets by-passed or rejected. A simplesubtraction will then show the total number of sheets ironed, althoughof course a microswitch could be provided having an operating fingerextending upwardly between ironer tapes 80, or'an electric eye in thesame position, which could actuate a counter circuit to also show thenumber of sheets ironed.

For convenience in utilization (FIGS. 1, 2 and the spreader. is,provided with casters 163 and with a floor brake 164 which can be raisedor lowered by a rotatable handle 164a (FIG. 1).

Rejected sheets may drop into a bin 165, or may be otherwise disposedof.

Tension on chain 32 can be adjustedby means of a threaded extension 166of arm 28, its adjusted final position being fixed by a lock nut 167.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the microswitch 109 is positionally adjustablealong arm 28a in the following manner. It is carried on arectangular bar168 the opposite ends of which slide within rectangular retainers 169and 170. Threaded into the end of bar 168 is a rod 171 which isrotatable in any suitable way from the operators position to providelimited endwise movement of bar 168, and consequently adjusting movementof the microswitch'109. Obviously the position of the microswitchdetermines the stop position of chain 32, and consequently the openposition of the clamps at the operators position. A slight variation ofsuch clamp position may make some difierence in its gripping efiect, so

5% it is quite helpful to the operator to be able to adjust the positionof the switch.

An operating panel 174 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided at the operatorsposition to carry any suitable controls. Lever 175 depending therefrommay, for example, be the operating means for reject switch 157' andlever 176 could operate main switch 123. The buzzer can be as shown onpanel 174. Other devices such as counters, timers, etc., can be locatedon the panel.

Motor 63 which operates the chains can be equipped with any quickstopping brake arrangement so as to prevent overrunning when the currentis cut off by microswitch 109. If desired this motor could runcontinuously and a clutch and brake combination could be substitutedbetween the motor and the chains.

The timers T8 T8 and T S can be adjusted for any suitable delay period.Timer TS, in particular can be adjusted to coincide with thecapabilities of a particular operator. While I have indicated the use ofa six second pause between operating cycles, this pause can be shortenedand four seconds is not out of the question. Even an unskilled operatorwho starts at sixseconds will rapidly become proficient enough toshorten the time. One factor is the condition in which sheets aredelivered to the operator, and she can work more. efficiently if thesheets are given to her insuch stacked position that the potentialleading edges have their opposed corners in easy pick-up position. Noharm is done of course if an operator should miss attaching a sheet fora cycle, and in any event this machine, with only one operator willdeliver more sheetsto the'ironer than previous skilled teams of two ormore operators, in addition to which the work will be more uniform andof higher quality.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for spreading a laundry fiatwork workpiece, and having areceiving end and a delivering end, said apparatus being adapted todeliver the workpiece to a delivery zone adjacent to further processingmeans, said apparatus comprising a pair of elongated swingable memberseach pivoted at a workpiece receiving position at said receiving end andextending to the delivery zone, an endless conveyor carried on eachmember, workpiece gripping means carried on each conveyor each adaptedto grip one of the opposite corners of the leading edge of the workpieceand for advancing the workpiece to said delivery end when said conveyoris running, and means biasing said swingable members outwardly arcuatelyaround their respective pivots and away from each other to stretch theleading edge to a taut condition.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said grip ping means isautomatically moved to releasing position when said leading edge reachesthe delivery zone.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein control means is provided forstopping said gripping means at the workpiece receiving position and inarticle receiving condition.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided formaintaining each said swingable member at equal angular divergences froma fixed longitudinal center line between said members.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each said swingable membercomprises a bracket having two arms joined in L-shaped relationship,said bracket being pivoted on a vertical axis at the .workpiecereceiving position, and having three sprockets, one at each arm free endand one at the juncture of the arms.-

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said vertical axis issubstantially parallel to one said arm, the last said arm being theshorter of the two.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said biasing means consistsof a tension spring, in combination with delay-action means to preventundesirably fast out- Ward movement or" said members when a workpiece isreleased.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided beneath thepath of travel of said workpiece on said conveyor for directing anairblast upwardly and outwardly against the lower surface of saidworkpiece whereby to spread said workpiece outwardly as it advances.

9. Apparatus for Spreading a laundry flatwork workpiece, and having areceiving end and a delivering end, said apparatus being adapted todeliver the workpiece to an ironer at a delivery zone, said apparatuscomprising a pair of elongated arms respectively pivoted on spaced axesat a workpiece receiving position at said receiving end, said armsextending to and above the delivery zone, an endless conveyor carried oneach arm, a clamp carried on each conveyor, each clamp being adapted togrip one of the opposite two corners of the leading edge of theworkpiece whereby to advance the workpiece to said delivery end andrelease it at said delivering end when said conveyor is running, meansbiasing said arms outwardly arcuately around their respective pivots andaway from each other to stretch the leading edge to a taut condition,and transfer means for receiving and supporting the trailing part of theworkpiece, and for transferring the workpiece towards an ironer at thedelivery zone.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said transfer means includesmeans for spreading the trailing edge of said workpiece outwardly fromits longitudinal central line.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein operatoroperatable by-passmeans is provided for reversing the direction of travel of a workpieceand withdrawing it from its direction of normal travel upon its releaseby said clamps.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said transfer means includesa group of parallel rolls extending laterally across the apparatus framenear the delivering end, at least one of said rolls having spiral beadmeans thereon adapted to spread a workpiece passing in contacttherewith.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein one of said rolls isrotated in reverse direction to the movement of the workpiece passingadjacent thereto, whereby to by-pass said workpiece out of its normalpath unless it is being positively drawn across said reversing roll.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein means is provided forraising said reversing roll above the level of the highest other rollwhereby to more positively exert a rearward driving impulse to saidworkpiece.

15. Apparatus for spreading a laundry flatwork workpiece, and having areceiving end, and a delivering end, said apparatus being adapted todeliver the workpiece to an ironer at a delivery zone, said apparatuscomprising a pair of elongated swingable arms respectively pivoted onspaced axes at a workpiece receiving position at said receiving end,said arms extending to and above the delivery zone, an endless conveyorcarried on each arm, a clamp carried on each conveyor, each clamp beingadapted to grip one of the opposite two corners of the leading edge ofthe workpiece whereby to advance the workpiece to said delivering endand releasing it at said end when said conveyor is running, meansbiasing said arms outwardly arcuately around their respective pivots andaway trom each other to stretch the leading edge to a taut condition, agroup of parallel rolls extending laterally across the apparatus framenear the delivering end, one of said rolls being a reversing roll byreason of its being rotatable counter to the direction of movement ofthe workpiece, means for raising the reversing roll above the level ofthe highest other roll, means in synchronism with advancing movement ofthe conveyors for timing the raising of the reversing roll at a certaintime period each conveyor moving cycle, and means for directing a streamof air downwardly against said reversing roll when said roll is inraised position.

16. Apparatus for spreading a laundry flatwork workpiece, and having areceiving end, and a delivering end, said apparatus being adapted todeliver the workpiece to a delivery zone adjacent to further processingmeans, said apparatus com-prising a pair of elongated swingable memberseach pivoted at a workpiece receiving position at said receiving end andextending to the delivery zone, an endless conveyor carried on eachmember, workpiece gripping means carried on each conveyor each adaptedto grip one of the opposite corners of the leading edge of the workpieceand for advancing the workpiece to the delivery end when said conveyoris running, means biasing said swingable members outwardly arcuatelyaround their respective pivots and away from each other to stretch theleading edge to a taut condition, control means for stopping saidgripping means at the work receiving position and in article receivingcondition, said control means including a trigger carried by one of saidconveyors, and electric circuitry having a switch responsive to saidtrigger and effective to stop driving means for said conveyors, saidcircuitry having in operative association therewith, a timer forre-starting said driving means after a predetermined time delay period.

17. Apparatus for spreading a laundry fiatwork workpiece, and having areceiving end, and a delivering end, said apparatus being adapted todeliver the workpiece to a delivery zone adjacent to further processingmeans, said apparatus comprising a pair of elongated swingable memberseach pivoted at a workpiece receiving position at said receiving end andextending to the delivery zone, an endless conveyor carried on eachmember, workpiece gripping means carried on each conveyor each adaptedto grip one of the opposite corners of the leading edge of the workpieceand for advancing the workpiece to the delivery end when said conveyoris running, means biasing said swingable members outwardly arcuatelyaround their respective pivots and away from each other to stretch theleading edge to a taut condition, control means for stopping saidgripping means at the work receiving position and in article receivingcondition, said control means including a trigger carried by one of saidconveyors and electric circuitry having a switch responsive to saidtrigger and eifective to stop driving means for said conveyors, saidswitch being carried on one of said members adjacent to the path ofmovement of said conveyor, and being positionally adjustable along saidmember.

18. Apparatus for spreading a laundry fiatwork workpiece, and having areceiving end, and a delivering end, said apparatus being adapted todeliver the workpiece to an ironer at a delivery zone, said apparatuscomprising a pair of elongated arms each respectively pivoted on spacedaxes at a workpiece receiving position, said arms extend ing to andabove said delivery zone, an endless conveyor carried on each arm, aclamp carried on each conveyor, each clamp being adapted to grip one ofthe opposite two corners of the leading edge of the workpiece whereby toadvance the workpiece to :the delivery zone and release it at said zonewhen said conveyor is running, means biasing said arms outwardlyarcuately around their respective pivots and away from each other tostretch said leading edge to a taut condition, transfer means forreceiving and supporting the trailing part of the workpiece, and fortransferring the work-piece towards the ironer at the delivery zone,said transfer means including a group of parallel rolls extendinglaterally across the apparatus frame near the delivery end, at least oneof said rolls having spiral bead means thereon adapted to spread aworkpiece passing in contact therewith, said spiral bead having twoportions, one each side of a central zone, the portions having theirspiral directions reversed with respect to each other whereby to urgeopposite lateral portions of said workpiece outwardly in oppsitedirections.

19. Apparatus for spreading a laundry fiatwork workpiece, 'and having areceiving end, and a delivering end, said apparatus being adapted todeliver the workpiece to 1 ii an ironer at a delivery zone, saidapparatus comprising a pair of elongated arms each respectively pivotedon spaced axes at a workpiece receiving position, said arms extending toand above said delivery zone, an endless conveyor carried on each arm,'a clamp carried on'each conveyor, each clamp being adapted to grip oneof the opposite two corners of the leading edge of the workpiece wherebyto advance the workpiece to the delivery zone and releasing it at saidzone when said conveyor is running, means biasing said arms'outwardlyarcuately around their respective pivots and away from each other tostretch said leading edge to a taut condition, a group of parallel rollsextending laterally across the apparatus frame'near the delivery end,one of said rolls being a reversing roll by reason of its beingrotatable counter to the direction of movement of the workpiece, meansfor raising the reversing roll above the level of the highest otherroll, means in synchronism With advancing movement of the conveyors fortiming the raising of the reversing roll at a certain time period eachconveyor moving cycle, means for directing a stream of air downwardlyagainst said reversing roll when said roll is in raised position, andtime delay means for causing the reversing roll to be raised a certaininterval after starting of each cycle, and to he maintained in raisedposition during a timecontrolled pause.

20. Apparatus for spreading a laundry fiatwork workpiece, and having areceiving end, and a delivering end, said apparatus being adapted todeliver the workpiece to a delivery zone adjacent to further processingmeans, said apparatus comprising a pair of elongated swingable memberseach pivoted at a workpiece receiving position and extending to thedelivery zone, an endless conveyor carried on each swin able member,workpiece gripping means carried on each conveyor each adapted to gripone of the opposite cornersof the leading edge of the workpiece and foradvancing the; workpiece to the delivery zone when said conveyoris'running, means biasing said swingablemembers arcuately around theirrespective pivotsa'nd outwardly away from each other to stretch saidleading said trigger being carried on a gripping means.

References Cited-in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS964,088 Chatfield July 12, 1910 1,248,856 Henry Dec. 4, 1917 1,280,607Widdowson Oct. 1, 1918 1,775,894 Dra b ble Sept. 16, 1930 1,827,336Sager Oct. 13, 1931 1,997,267 Remington Apr. 9, 1935 2,463,683 Fay Mar.8, 1949 2,654,969 Wood-Ward Oct. 13, 1953 2,736,082 Dungler Feb. 28,1956 2,923,966 Tooke Feb. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,104 Great-Britain of1831 449,716 France Jan. 3, 1913 422,856 Germany Dec. 14, 1925

1. APPARATUS FOR SPREADING A LAUNDRY FLATWORK WORKPIECE, AND HAVING ARECEIVING END ANE A DELIVERY END, SAID APPARATUS BEING ADAPTED TODELIVER THE WORKPIECE TO A DELIVERY ZONE ADJACENT TO FURTHER PROCESSINGMEANS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED SWINGABLE MEMBERSEACH PIVOTED AT A WORKPIECE RECEIVING ZONE, AT SAID RECEIVING END ANDEXTENDING TO THE DELIVERY ZONE, AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR CARRIED ON EACHMEMBER, WORKPIECE GRIPPING MEANS CARRIED ON EACH CONVEYOR EACH ADAPTEDTO GRIP ONE OF THE OPPOSITE CORNERS OF THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WORKPIECEAND FOR ADVANCING THE WORKPIECE TO SAID DELIVERY END WHEN SAID CONVEYORIS RUNNING, AND MEANS BIASING SAID SWINGABLE MEMBERS OUTWARDLY ARCUATELYAROUND THEIR RESPECTIVE PIVOTS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO STRETCH THELEADING EDGE TO A TAUT CONDITION.